Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

The Principal Civil Engineer is a key member of the team that creates the intelligent client Thames Water needs to achieve its AMP8 ambitions and beyond. You’ll be responsible for building, leading, managing, coaching and developing a team of circa 10 engineers ranging from graduates to senior engineers.

As a Principal in the Wastewater Infrastructure Civil Engineering team, you will take a leading role in developing and delivering innovative SuDS and Nature Based Solutions from the early feasibility, optioneering phase through to briefing for delivery and provision of technical oversight during detailed design and delivery.


What you’ll be doing as a Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

You will provide leadership and expertise in flooding and drainage engineering needed to:

• Get the right solutions and definition in Project Briefs.
• Input and continuously improve Technical Asset Standards, updating and developing standards for SuDs and Nature Based solutions from a Civils perspective.
• Provide Design sign-off of deliverables.
• Provide technical oversight during the delivery, commissioning, and handover of Assets.
• Ensure and deliver the Engineering Regulatory compliance on relevant assets in the Civil Engineering area.
• Provide expertise in Surface Water Management, including SuDS design and surface water management policy and guidance.
• Scope retrofitting of SuDs and Catchment separation as part of our Storm Overflows reduction programme.
• Represent engineering on the TW Flooding Resilience Steering Committee and the Surface Water Management Steering Committee.
• Review flood risk assessments and mitigation solutions provided by our supply chain.
• Undertake road pavement and drainage design for our operational sites.
• Interface with our DWMP team and provide engineering support as and when needed.
• Represent TW on Industry bodies related to flooding and drainage.

Base location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB

Working hours: 36 hours per week

What you should bring to the role

• Significant knowledge and experience in UK drainage and water utility civil infrastructure design and construction.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment we work in to achieve compliance with our engineering regulatory requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and management to drive results through influence
• Experience in management, leadership, and the development of people in a culture of accountability and achievement.
• Be educated to degree level or equivalent in Civil Engineering with professional chartership
• Possess the credibility to influence at a senior level and authority to challenge to ensure that we are making the right decisions.
• A passion for sustainability and the environment, as well as for continuous professional development.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £61,000 to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays) 
• Car Allowance.
• Annual Bonus.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world's water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.